Folding chair



NOV. 14, 1933- F DANZER 1,935,238

FOLDING CHAIR Filed 001;. 10, 1932 @Q/WOM 0%:

6% 1 4 45 4 QWaI W Patented Nov, 14, 1933 rarrs roL iNG CHAIR Fred PrDanzer, Racine, Wis., assignor to Gold Medal Folding Furniture (30., Racine, Wis.

I Application October 10, 1932. 'seiialivo. 637,000 H 1 2 Claims (01. 155117) This invention pertains to folding chairs, and

more particularly .to what are commonly known as adjustable. reclining chairs. 1 I ,Heretoforainchairs of the foregoing char- 6 acter provided with arms, numerous pivotal connections and complicated link arrangements have been'employed to permit desired folding of the arms with the chair, and to compensate for folding and adjustment of the chair,

The foregoing structure is necessarily costly in manufacture, requires an awkward operation in collapsing and interfolding the chair, presents an extremely weak structure, and, lastly, but highly important, such j arms make occupancy and egress of the chair extremely awkward, particularly when the chair is provided with the conventional foot-rest.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing objections by the provision in a conventional foldinglchair of an extremely simple, inexpensive and durable arm structure, which eliminates links, and a multiplicity of pivotal connections, and, enables the arms to be readily swung out of the way for convenient occupancy or egress of the chair, and also facilitates folding or setting up of the chair. I Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object residcs in the provision of a folding chair, in which the arms are pivotaily connected to the adjustable support, and are freely supported upon projections carried by the back frame, whereby they maybe readily swung out of the way when desired, and yet maintain a substantially hori zontal position, regardless of the adjustedposition of the chair. 0 l

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in. the novel construction,-combination and arrangement of parts, substantially defined by the appended claims, it being under stood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawing:-- 7 Figure 1 is an elevation of a conventional fold- .able reclining chair, with the invention incorporated therein. y

Figure 2 is a plan view, with parts brokenaway and in section, and i with pegs or projections 15, which normally en' as hereinafter described and more particularly Figure 3 is a detail section of the invention; I y 1 Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 designates aback frame, to which the seat frame 2' is pivotally connected by rivets .3, or any other suitable connection. The backframe lcomprises the usual side rails 4, connected'at their ends by. the transverse braces 5, while the seat frame 2 likewise comprises the side rails 6 connected at their respecof a modification "tive ends by the transverse braces '7.

, Pivotally connected to the seat frame by the rivets 8 is an adjustable support 9, which includes the arms 10, connected at their lower ends by a transverse bar 11,- which inthe setup position of the chair engages the spaced notches 12 provided in the upper edges of the seat rails 6. As indicated in dotted lines on Figure 1, a strip of fabric or canvas 13 is connected to the top transverse braces 5 and 7, respectively, thus forming the seat and back rest.

The foregoing structure, which has been illustrated and described in some detail, is conventional. and, therefore, forms no part of the present invention other than in the combination as hereinafter claimed, it being understood that the invention may be applied to other conventional types of folding chairs. I

In its preferred form, the invention essentially consists of a pair of arm rests 14, pivotally connected to the outer sides of the supporting arms 10 intermediate their ends, and in order to support the arms in substantially horizontal position,when the chair is set up, the back rails 4 are provided gage the arm rests 14 intermediate their ends. As best shownin'li'igure 2, the outer ends of the arm rests are enlarged inwardly to provide the de-. sired support for the arms of the occupant, and here it maybe explained that the enlarged por- 95. tions of the arm rests are spaced a sufficient distance from the pivoted ends of thearms so-as to clear the pivoted ends of the supporting arms 9 as the arm rests are swung rearwardly. Also,

inasmuch as the inner edge of the enlarged portion of the arm rest terminates in alinement with the outer face of the back rails 4, the arm rests which may be readily swung out of the way to facilitate occupancy or egress of the chair, this being extremely awkward. where rigid arms are employed, particularly in instances where the chair is provided with a conventional foot-rest, such. as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1.

It will further be appreciated that the present invention permits ready adjustmentof the chair, by shifting of the support 9 into the various notches provided in the seat rails 6, and, at, the same time-the arm rests maintain a substantially horizontal position, inasmuch as any adjustmentof the chair simultaneously raises or lowers both the pivotal connections-of the arm rests and the supporting backs 15.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 3, the arm rest 14 is pivotally connectedin a clevis 16, which may be pivotally or rigidly connected to the adjacent supporting arm 9. In this form of the invention the arm 14 may be swung either horizontally or vertically, suiting the convenience of the occupant of the chair. Thus it will be seen that the same results and advantages heretofore described may be accomplished in various ways without departing from the invention, the salient feature of which resides in the elimination of supporting links for the arms, and providing for supporting the free ends of said arm rests.

2. In a folding chair comprising pivotally connected back and seat rails and an adjustable support pivotally connected to the back rails adjustably engaged with the seat rails, a pair of aun rests pivotally connected to the outer sides of said adjustable support, the outer ends of said arm rests being enlargedinwardly, the enlarged portions clearing the pivoted ends of said support and said back rails when swung OnLtheir pivots, and projections carried by said back rails for slidably supporting the free ends of said arm rests.

FRED P. DANZER. 

